Proverbs 3:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

NIV: for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.

NASB: For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.

CSB: for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from a snare.

NLT: for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

KJV: For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

NKJV: For the Lord will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.

According to this verse our security rests with the Lord. He will protect us. No one will be able to trap us. When we trusted in Jesus as our Savior, we became God's children and His friends, but we also became targets of the Devil and the unregenerate world. The world hates us and opposes us, but we should not be surprised or dismayed (John 15:18–21). The last several verses have emphasized the peace of mind which comes to those who follow godly wisdom and discretion. While our actions cannot save us (Ephesians 2:8–9), they do reflect our beliefs (James 2:18–20). Acting in accordance with godliness not only keeps us from the risks of sinful behavior (Proverbs 3:21–24), it enhances our reassurance that God is by our side (Hebrews 11:13–16).

Jesus predicted that we would have tribulation in the world, but He assured us He has overcome the world (John 16:33). The apostle Paul also predicted we would face opposition because of our commitment to lead a godly life. He wrote: "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12), but he also addressed believers as "more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37). The apostle John, too, noted that we are overcomers because of our faith in Jesus as the Son of God (1 John 5:5).

Proverbs 3:13–26 extols the virtue of wisdom. Solomon began this discussion in chapter 1, and explained in chapter 2 that the Lord gives wisdom to the upright. Now he describes as blessed the person who finds wisdom, and explains its benefits and applications. Wisdom, as used in this book, refers to the ability to apply godly knowledge. While not a guarantee someone will act accordingly, having a grasp of God's intent for our lives is immensely valuable.

This chapter of Proverbs is addressed to Solomon's son. The term, ''my son'' occurs 15 times in chapters 1—7. The words may apply to one of Solomon's students in his court or to one of his biological sons. The application of wisdom in Proverbs 3 shows the benefits of trusting in the Lord with one's whole heart. Solomon credits obedience to and trust in God for longevity, success, guidance, health, reward that exceeds monetary wealth, enjoyment, peace, security, confidence, excellent human relationships, the Lord's blessing and favor, and honor. As with all ''proverbs,'' biblical or otherwise, their purpose is to impart general wisdom, not absolute prophecy. Like the original audience, modern readers are not expected to see these guidelines as absolute guarantees for any one person.

This passage lies in the second section of the book, found in chapters 1—9. The author, King Solomon, reigned over Israel from 971 to 931 BC. The first section of Proverbs, the preface, is found in Proverbs 1:1–7. The third section, chapters 10—22, were also written by Solomon. These proverbs were likely written by Solomon in his middle years, whereas he probably wrote Song of Songs in his early adulthood, and Ecclesiastes near the end of his life. As in the first two chapters, wisdom is stressed in Proverbs 3.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.